Saw the news the other week about Prince Harry being posted to Iraq with his regiment. I was moved to read he's a troop leader in an armoured reconnaissance unit. Because that's precisely the job my father had, up at the sharp end in the Western Desert in 1942-43.
Harry said he would not accept being left behind while his men went and be denied the chance to serve his country.
Much commentary reflected on how few of the powerful war leaders in Washington DC have children in Iraq or even in the forces.
But I stopped on that "my country." The prince is talking about Britain, and of course he's right. He ain't going for Canada or Auz or Tanzania. Sometimes we all pretend otherwise, but the Royals are as English as the lions in Trafalgar Square, and so they should be.
